my Hero?

A couple days ago I passed by a restaurant that was caution taped off and there was a crowd of people waiting outside for a famous retired soccer player to finish his lunch and come out. I had no idea who the man was even though they told me his name and I watched the people go crazy calling out "Diego!" hoping to get a glimpse or autograph. Diego simply walked out and up to his hotel room.

It amazes me that people would be so motivated to just see someone, not to know them or be their friend but simply see them; and the reason for wanting to see him has nothing to do with who he is, but rather that he can kick a ball really good. He was their hero but yet for no good reason.

I have been reflecting on why we do this. Why do we get so animated by a football team but not by our family? Maybe it is a bit two fold. We need to feel like we belong to something so we associate ourselves with a group and secondly we want to feel envied. We want to be in the elite circle of exclusivity, to feel bigger about ourselves by rubbing shoulders with those we consider big. What then does this say about our view of God and about being members of his family? This post is less of a whole idea and more a quick observation so I will just leave the questions hanging.

-Eric

Salvation, Everything is not enough...

As Heather and I have been pondering the Middle East I have spent more time trying to understand Islam and more particularly Judaism. They are dedicated to their beliefs because they both believe their salvation is tied to their actions. I have been trying to read the gospels outside of the understanding and interpretation that has been handed down to me and I have found something, nothing new but rather a different focus. I have found that salvation linked to actions is not entirely wrong (stay with me I am not denying "by grace through faith") Jesus is not the cushy tolerant person I have made him out to be for many years. This I may have known before but definately not the Jesus I preached. Jesus is NOT tolerant. His demands are incredible. He does not compromise for his disciples. In Jesus we do not find an "understanding" way of tolerance but a very strict way. The key is that there is always forgiveness, not tolerance but forgiveness. His demands never let up but forgiveness is available. Humility is the key to the lock of God's forgiveness. Faith in Jesus and his work must be founded in a position of humility.

Salvation is free, a gift of God "by grace through faith". My issue is faith. I do not believe that faith is mere mental ascent (I believe in my mind) without action. James testifies to the worth of faith without deeds. Jesus REQUIRES everything! "But I thought salvation was free?" True, it is, meaning that everything you have and everything you are is still not enough to pay for salvation but true "belief", true "faith" then requires action on that faith. It is the consequence of faith. If I were to live under a cliff and say that I believe it will fall, yet continue to live under it then I don't really believe it now do I, not REALLY.

Jesus offer to us is not a "get-out-of-jail-free" card that allows us to live just however soley because we "believe". he has offered us a way of repentance; a way of turning to God completely because we have forgiveness. Those who say they believe but the fruits of belief do not permiate every portion of their being, every thought, every breath, then I would encourage them like Paul to ask whether or not they truely believe. Is the faith a mere shell, dead according to James, or equal to the belief the demons have in fear as Jesus says?

What does real faith look like? If I am hung up on my things and not constantly geared toward forgiveness and change, then I don't really believe. If I am unwilling to place a friendship or job on the line for the sake of sharing the gospel, if I am not compelled to help the poor, if my vision is on retirement instead of eternity, then I MUST ask the question. It is this question that keeps me grounded. It is this question that sharpens my focus, on the goal, on the cost, on the prize.

My salvation was given to me freely but the consequence of my true faith costs me everything. Am I willing to give up everything today?

-Eric